Machine for bottling liquids.



F. w. JACOB.

MACHINE FOB. BOTTiINGLIQUIDS. APPLICATION FILED DBO. 30,1907.

938,240.. v Patented 0011.26, 1909.

'1 SHEETS-SHEET an I wwwssas.

ma vw W I. W. JACOB. MACHINE FOR BOTTLING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.30,1907.

938,240,- Patented 0013.26, 1909.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

F. w. JACOB; MACHINE FOB BOTTLING LIQUIDS. APPLICATION FILED DEG, 30,:1907.

Patented 0011 261909.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

- F. W. JACOB;

MACHINE 'ron BOTTLING LIQUIDS. I APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30, 1907.

938,240. Patented 0.ec;26,19 9. I

- F. fw. JACOB. MACHINE P013, BOTTLQ'IG' LIQUIDS! APPLICATION FILEDDJBO.30,1907.

9 0T 9B 13 ,H 6 2L T LUE C on 8 d7 6 h. n e t a P [in m F. W. JACOB.JMAGHINE FOR BOTTLING LIQUIDS.

APPLIIOATIOITIYILBD 1 I.'o.so,'1 907. 938,240. Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

' 7 sums-45111131 -7.

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FREDERICK WILLIAM JACOB, or LONDON, ENGLAND.

MACHINE FOR BOTTLING LIQUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application filed December 30, 1907. Serial No. 408,624.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, FREDERICK WIL-LIAM, JACOB, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, of 77, 7 9, and 81 Theobalds road, London, in the countyof'Middlesex, England,

merchant, have invented a new and useful- Improvement in or Relating toMachines for "Bottling Liquids, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to machines for bottling liquids under pressure,and it has-more particular reference'to that class known as revolvingbottling machines such as are employed for beer, and the like, Suchmachines as above referred to have comprised a rotary tank or cisternadapted for connection to the cask of liquor and to a storage of gas orair under pressure, and have been fitted with a series of fillersprovided with self-closing valves which opened when a bottle was placedthereunder. The. means adopted for raising, holding in position, andtransporting each bottle during the process of filling hasnecessitated acomplicated series of levers and cams, while their detachment andremoval have involved further mechanism. Numerous disadvantages haveattended such constructions for instance, the

excessive weight of the moving part in consequence of the complicatedmechanism, the liability ofthe parts to get out of order, theinaccessibility of the conduits for purposes of cleaning, the diflicultyof employin bottles other than of a standard shape and size, while inthe event of a bottle breaking a serious loss of liquor and gas or airresulted before the supply could be cut ofi' due to the non-automaticaction of the valves under all conditions of working.

The present invention has been devisedwith the object of overcoming allthe foregoingv disadvantages in a simple and effective manner, wherebythe cost of such machines 1s greatly reduced, cleanllness 1S nsured,wear and tear is reduced to a min mum, re-

newal of injured or worn parts is easy, and

leakage is entirely obviated.

The invention conslsts essentially in providing a rotary bottlingmachine, manually operated step by step, in which the bottles are firmlyheld by their necks and automatically released when arriving at thepoint forremoval, each filler of the machine being furnished with anautomatic valve and. an air duct normally closed by means of-a flexiblevalve which is mechanically raised, after each bottle is locked inposition for filling, whereby. an inrushof gas under pressure takesplace and when said pressure is equalized the self-acting valve on thefiller-automatically opens and filling commences.

A further improvement lies. in dispensing with a separate series oflevers, springs and the like, for operating the valves of each fillerand actuating the entire number as Patented 0013.26, 1909f eachconsecutively passes a, fixed stop or trigger. W

The accompanying drawings are in illustration of the present invention,Figure 1 being an elevation of a beer bottling machine constructed inaccordance with the present improvements and adapted for operation byfoot. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the revolving cistern andits supporting standard and showing also two of plan showing a preferredform of mechanism for actuating the cistern step by step..

Fig. 6 is a part sectional elevation of the preceding figure. hollow capsupporting the flexible valves and the air passages hereinafter morefully described. Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the revolving andstationary feed pipe extensions within the cistern. Fig. 9 is a partunderside plan view of the revolving cistern and showing the meansadopted for locking the bottles in position, as well as for liberatingthem when filled ready for removal. Figs. 10 andll are respectively aplan and elevation of. a cam device hereinafter explained and furtherillustrated in the next two succeeding figures.- Fig. 12 is a sectionalplan of a modified arrangement of the inventlon and showing combined airand liquor valves and fillers as well as the means for verse section onthe line 6-?) in the preceding illustration. Fig. 16 is a transversesecthe fillers with their connections to the air v Fig, 7 is a plan ofthe tion on. the line in Fig. 14, and Fig. 17 isa similar section on theline d0l in the same figure. I

Like reference numerals designate the same or similar trations.

-.According to one wayof carrying myinvention into effect, and asillustrated by Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, I- mount the liquor tank orcistern 1 upon a hollow standard 2' 1 revolubly supported at its baseupon a ball bearing'3, said standard 2 being arranged concentric with aninner hollow support 4 rigidly secured to the table 5 of the machine.The feed pipe 6 from the barrel or other source is rigidly held as bymeans ,of a flanged coupling 7 fixed to the table 5,

so as to prevent its turning with the cistern 1, and it'is conducted upthrough the inner support 4 and furnishedfwith a perforated extension 8within the cistern 1 concentric with a larger hollow cylinder 9, fixedto the bottom of the cistern as shown-and perforated about itscircumferential surface by elongated apertureslO, 10, for example. Atthe top of the larger hollow cylinder 9 which is carried to a suitableheight within the cistern l'above the level of the liquor I form anoutwardly projecting gallery 11 around which are arranged and connectedthereto a serles of air ducts or gas conduits 12, 12, in number equal tothat. of the fillers;

the bottling machine exemplified being fitted with 10 fillers. Each ofthe apertures around the gallery 11 connecting with these conduit pipes12, 12, is closed by a flexible valve 13 of rubber'or the like which ismade somewhat in the form of the letter Las best shown in 'Fig. 2 theshort arm of which is adapted to normally close the passage of air tothe aforesaid conduits 12, 12, while the longer 'or perpendicular arm isfixed at its upper end to a radial arm 14,.projecting .inwardly from ahollow cap or cover 15 to allow a supply of compressed'carbonic acid gasor air to pass into each freshly attached bottle 17 and immediately thepressure on both sides of the self-acting valve 18 on the filler 19 isequalized it automatically lifts and filling commences.

To allow for the free rotation of the cis- -tern 1 and to insure aperfectly liquid proof joint I provide at the bottom of said cistern andaround the feed pipe 6 a strong flexible packing 20- of rubber or thelike, coned up-' wardly toward its center which is always parts in thevarious illusforced downward by the weight of liquor as 'well as the'pressure of gas on top of same, and it is conveniently secured inposition byaa screwed flanged collar 21, clampin it to the bottom of thecistern 1; or, an or inary cup-leather may be used.

'At or near the base of .the hollow standard 2 I form or fix thereto aratchet wheel 22, the teeth of which are in number equal to that of thefillers carried by the liquor cistern, in the present case there being10 teeth. Said ratchet wheel 22 is preferably actuated in the followingmanner, and as-best shown by Figs. 1,5 and 6:Concentric with thestandard 2 and near its base and preferably immediately above and belowthe ratchet wheel 22, I mount loose rings 23,23, carrying between them abell-crank 24, one arm 25 of which is adapted to act assa detent or pawlby'engaging with the ratchet 22. To the other arm 26 of 'this bell-crank24, I attach one end of a chain 27, conveniently carried through abentpipe or guide 28 and fastened to a-foot leverl29 pivoted beneath themachine. The treadle end 30 of this lever 29 is normally kept in theraised 'po-- sition by a strong-spring 31. whichmay be attached to theloose rings 23, or as shown, one end thereof is connected to the arm 26and theother end to a-pillalr 32 on the table 5, and so pulls thebell-crank 24 and pawl 25 J backward ready for engaging the next toothof the ratchet 22 and'so keeps the treadle 30 raised When the. treadle30 is depressed it operates the cistern 1 "throu h the connections.abovedescribed where y a fresh vfiller 19 is breught into position to.have a bottle 17 attached thereto. after each move- 7 ment ofsaidtreadle 30. Each depression of the; foot lever 29: thus-moves thecistern forward a distance corresponding proportionally to the movementforward of, one

tooth of theratchet 22. I I

Two projections,fje'onveniently lugs 33 between which are distancepieces; forkeeping the loose rings 23 parallel, areprovided on saidloose rings 23,23, and are adapted to enga e stops 34, 35which may bemade adjustableuponthe standard 36 fixedtothe table. 5, or upon themachine frame. One of these stops 34 prevents the detent 25 bedrawnfarther backward than "is just in suicient for it to rengage with thenext tooth on the ratchet 22 after each operationof the foot lever 29,and theother 35 arrests-'- the movement of the liquor tank 1 when it},arrives at the position where a-jfull bottle is detached and a freshempty one applied Each filler19 of the machine is carried by a nut orplug37 screwed into the base of the cistern 1 near its circumferentialedge, and Y over its upper and inner endvbut slightly away therefrom Iarrange a flexiblevalve 18 of rubber or the likewhich is adapted toautomatically. close the upper end of the i verse direction by a curvedI horizontal and jamming are carried down through the required level.

filler 19; or, as shown in Fig. 3 said valve 18 may be provided with acentral solid portion and furnished with perforations 38 around samewhich assist the free passage of the liquid when said valve 18 israised.

Below the cistern land formed integrally therewith are depending flanges39, concentric with each filler 19, each .of 'sa flanges 39 beingscrewed externally to receive a nut or cap 40 which retains a flexiblediaphragm or washer 41 in positionfl diaphragm or'washer 41 ispreferably made of rubber and furnished with a hole at its centersomewhat smaller than the outside diameter of' theneck of theb'ottle toe filled. When a bottle 17 is forced upwardly against the diaphragm orwasher 41, it assumes a concave form as shown at the left hand side ofFig. 2, and thereby makes a perfect joint around .the neck of thebottle. Below each diaphragm"41 I pivotally mount av flat plate 42,(Figs. 2 and 9) provided with. an elongated aperture 43 somewhat curved'circumferentially Y and larger at one end than at the other so that whena bottleneck 17 is passedtherethrough from the larger end, and the plateis moved'about its pivot 44, the narrower part of the aper- -ture 43will be forced under and against the lower edge of the flange on theneck and lock it firmly to the machine. This plate 42 is normally forcedin one direction, that tending to-hold the bottles 17 in position, bymeans of a strong spring 45 attached at one end thereto and at the otherto the base 'of the cistern 1, and is operated in the reedge 46. thereofengaging with and being passed over a roller 47 revolubly mounted on theupper end of the aforesaid standard or bracket 36, or, it may be fixedto a convenient part" of the framework of'the machine, .said roller\ 47thereby acting as a cam-path for the movingplate 42. A supporting ledgeorguide'E48 is provided remote from'the pivot 44 so that the plate, 42is always retained perfectly revented. 1 rom the gallery 11 the fillertubes to stop the filling at The air ducts 12, 12,

19 to the desired point The cistern 1 is provided with an easilydetachable cover 49 and is fitted also with a float adapted to operatean air-valve so that air-lockingof the apparatus is prevented or,

as shown, I may furnish the cover 49, with a centrally arrangedcylindrical portion 50 in the crown of which'the air valve 51-issituated, the spindle 52 of said valve being somewhat elongated andconnected 'at.- its' lower end to a cylindrical float 53 convenientlyadapted -to movewjithin the perforated exand as illustrated by tension 8aforesaid.- I v According to another form of my invention 10 to 17inclusive 1 by Figs. 14 to 17,

I dispense with the perforated'extensions 8 and 9 in addition to thelong air-ducts 12 aforesaid and in their place employ a combined air andliquor valve and is actuated by a fixed disk cam 54 arranged within thecistern 1 at a little distance from its bottom. In this case, and asbest shown each filler 19 is carried by a screwed nut or plug 37'asaforesaid and is furnished at .its upper part witli'a perforatedcylindrical extension 55 in which is Situated filler 19 which acorkfloat 56, preferably faced .at its lower part with a thin layer ofrubber 57 which is adapted to close the upper somewhat similarly to. theflexible valve 18' hereinbefore described. Over the cylindricalextension 55 is fitted a freely end of the filler 19 slidable meta-l cupor cover 58 preferably perforated in its;

crown by holes 59 to preventa vacuum-being created therein. This cup orcover 58 in use is adapted by its own weight to keep the float 56vnormally seated upon the upper endof the filler '19.

filler tube 19 is an air ti'on 12 which is normally closed by a flexiblevalve 60 carried at the lower end of a vertlcally disposed tube 61concentrically arranged within asecond tube or column 62 convenientlyfixed to a flanged extension 63 of the air duct 12, and these tubes areof such Connecting with. each or gas duct or conneca height as to reachabove the normal liquor level within the cistern 1., Concentric with thetube 61 and carried thereby is .(an outer tube 64. furnished at itsupper end with an internal flange or. proj eotions which normally restupon the top of the the cistern 1. 71is a slidable cap or cover '58which is adapted to co-act with "a project? 7 =1'oo column 62, and atits: 4 lower end with an outwardly projecting 195 shown, circular in lanaudit is Fig. 13. Perforations' the passage of the liquor ing rim 72furnished around the -greater part of the circumferential edge of thedisk 54. 73 is'a float hin ed at 7 4 to the cistern -1 and carryin arubier nipple 75 which when raised closes the air vent or cook 76. Itwill bev seen that, by this arrangement of parts greater compactness isinsured while the cylindrical portion 50 of the cover 49 and thefioat'53 are dispensed with. f

The operation of. my improved bottling machine is briefly asfollows':-The cistern 1 is first charged with carbonicv acid gas from aconvenient supply to say a pressure of 20 lbs. when the connection fromthe supply is cut off. A similar or equal'pressure is put upon-andmaintained on-the liquor to be racked off and bottled. The supply ofliquor to the machine is then turned on and a bottle 17 pushed upagainst the dia- 5 phragm 41 as above described, the foot lever 29 isthen depressed when the bottle 17 .is-

automatically locked in position by the locking plate 42 and a freshfiller 19 brought .into the .same position ,to receive a further".b0i3i3l6, while at the same time the flexible valve 13 or 60controlling the air duct 12 to the filler 19, now 'movedforward 'onetooth of the ratchet 22, is raised and a supply of gas or air introducedinto the bottle. In 5 the one case this is effected by the action ofthetrigger 16 and in the other by the 'projecting rim 72 co-actin'g withthe flange 65 at the lower end of the tube 64:. As the pressure of thegas in'each bottle 17 bal- -20 ances with that in .the cistern 1, theselfacting valve 18 lifts, or, in the modified form of the invention thefloat 56, as the cap 58 is raised by the projection 66 on the disk 54.-the cork float 56 rises and filling commences. The supply of gas or air'is then forced back into the cistern 1 through theflexible air valvesaforesaid by the liquor running into and filling the bottle 17 whichoperation continues until the level reaches that of the lower extremityof the-air duct 12, the liquor then rises up saidair duct until itreaches the level of the liquor in the cistern. The full bottle thentravels around with the machine until it reaches the operator whoremoves it, and so on. Should a bottle burst it will be seen that thesupply of liquor and gas or air is automatically, and instantly, cut offand undue loss prevented,-while the small amount of liquor left in thetubes when a bottle is removed is held therein suspended by the vacuumcreated above it.

The details of construction may be varied more or less without departingfrom the nature of my invention: for example, I may arrange the airducts and flexible valves immediately' above the fillers and make thetrigger radially long enough 'to operate them, and by this meansdispensing with the hollow cylinder hereinbefore described. FurthermoreI may dispense with the foot lever 29 and operate the machine by movingthe cistern around by hand. By my improvements-I provide an extremelysimple and effective machine for the purpose specified, and it will bereadily understood that by the present invention reliability in actionis insured, the machine is simple to construct, easily manipulated, ac-,cessible in all parts for cleaning, readily adjusted and not likely toget out of order, while it may be placed adjacent a corking machine andthe dual operations of filling and corking continuouslycarried on, thuseffecting a great savmg 1n time andlabor. I I claim: i

1. In a machine for bottling liquids, the combination of 'a suitablesupport, means for operating said support step by step, means carried bysaid support for holding the bottles by their necks, means forautomatically releasing said holding means at the proper point,andfillers for the machine,

including means for supplying the liquid to I the bottles, an automaticvalve between the liquid-containing means and the bottles, an air ductleading to each of thebottle holding.

means, a flexible valve normally closing said alr duct, and means formechanicallyralslng each of said air valves in turn over each of thebottles after it is locked in position for filling, substantially asdescribed.

2. In'a machine for bottling liquids, the v combination of a hollowstandard, a revoluble support for said standard, a cistern or tankmounted upon said standard, afeed pipe passing through said supportand-into said cistern andv provided at its upper end within said cisternwith aperforated extension, a perforated cylinder located in said tankand surrounding said extension, a gallery carried on the top of saidcylinder, a

series of air ducts leading from said gallery,

a series of bottle'supports carried atthe bottom of said tank througheach of which an air duct passes, a flexible valve for each of said airducts, a radial trigger fixedly mounted on the extension of the feedpipe, a-series' of fillers, one for each flexible duct, and means forrotating said cistern, substantially as described. v

3.. In a machine for bottling liquids, the combination of a feed pipeprovided with a perforated extension at its upper end, a cistern or tankthrough the bottom of which said feed pipe projects, a circumferentiallyperforated cylinder in said tank surrounding said extension, agallerymounted on the upper part of said cylinder, a series of. airducts carried by said gallery and radially secured to said gallery, aflexible valve for as described.

4. In a machine for bottling liquids, the

closing each of said air ducts, a radial trig- 'ger carried by said feedpipe-extension, and means for rotating said -pistern, substantiallycombination of a rotatablecistern, feeding means for said cistern,means'for, rotating said cistern, a series o fbottle filling means Ycarried by said cistern, an air ductjfor each of said bottle .fillingmeans, an L-shaped flexible valve for closing the end. of each of saidair ducts, and a fixed device .adapted to engage each of said valves insuccession as the cistern is rotated, substantially as described; v

5. In a machine for bottling liquids, the combinationof a rotatabletank, a gallery therein, a series of bottle fillers, an'air duct leadingfrom said gallery to each' of said fillers, L-shaped radialarms mountedon said gallery, a flexible valve carried by each of 'said arms andadapted to close the upper "end of each of said air ducts, and means forone of said fillers, substantially as described.

7. In a machine for bottling liquids, the

- combination of a rotatable cistern,-a series are pivotally mounted,springsfor normally of bottle supports carried by said cistern, andmeansfor locking said supportsaround the necks of the bottles, saidmeans consisting of flat plates, each provided with an elongatedaperture larger at one end than at the other, a support on which saidplates drawing said plates in. one direction, and a roller carried bysaid last mentioned supportsfor forcing said plates in the otherdirection at the proper time, thus permitting the removal or insertionof a bottle, substantially as described.

8.In a machine for bottling liquids, the combination of a rotatable.tank, a ollow column supporting said tank, a series of bottle holdingmeans and fillersjcarried thereby,-and means located on the outside ofsaid column .for rotating said tank, consisting of a ratchet wheel,loose rings surrounding said ratchet wheel,- a bell crank lever, one armof which acts as a detent or pawl pivotally carried by said rings, aspring normally pulling said leverin onedirection,

a chain attached to said, lever, and, afoot lever connected to'saidchain, substantially as described.

Y In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two,witnesses, v v FREDERICK WILLIAM 001;.

Witnesses: v

ALFRED T. BnA'r'roN', DOROTHY K. 1330mm-

